A bipartisan bill that would create a mechanism to turn off resources to the NSA passed out of an important California state Senate committee Tuesday by a 5-0 vote.

Dubbed the Fourth Amendment Protection Act, Senate Bill 828 (SB828) would ban the state from participating in, or providing material support or resources to any federal agency engaged in the “illegal and unconstitutional collection of electronic data or metadata, without consent, of any person not based on a warrant that particularly describes the person, place, and thing to be searched or seized.”

While Ukraine, the NBA, and Cliven Bundy dominated the headlines in North America, the Canadian press reported on a major milestone that was quietly reached – the first firing of a Canadian healthcare worker for refusing a vaccine, and the public shaming effort that comes with the “option” of wearing a face mask which took place in December.

Kiev’s “anti-terrorist” operation in East Ukraine is in full swing, with at least 5 reported dead in the ensuing violence. Anti-government activists remain defiant and refuse to leave the seized buildings, demanding that Kiev’s troops withdraw.

Wednesday, April 30

20:18 GMT:

Ukraine has expelled the naval attaché of Russia’s embassy in Kiev, declaring him persona non grata, Interfax news agency reported, citing the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. The attaché was expelled in connection with his “activities being incompatible” with diplomatic status in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, the ministry said, adding that he must leave the country immediately. The website of the Russian embassy in Ukraine names Kirill Kolyuchkin as its naval attaché.

Republican members of the United States Senate took further steps on Wednesday towards increasing sanctions against Russia amidst an escalating international crisis surrounding neighboring Ukraine.

Just two days after US President Barack Obama introduced the White House’s latest attempt to reprimand Moscow for its role in the Ukrainian ordeal, 19 senators introduced legislation on Wednesday described by Reuters as being broader and tougher than anything put in place yet by the administration.

According to Reuters, the sanctions would apply to major Russian banks and energy companies, and come with $100 in military aid for Kiev. Wall Street Journal reporter Kristine Peterson added Wednesday morning that the military aspect of the proposal, if approved, would require the White House to substantially increase US and NATO support for the armed forces of allied Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, as well as accelerate implementation of missile defense in Europe.

One year after the police lockdown of Watertown following the Marathon bombing, Bostonians who live and work in neighborhoods and communities facing SWAT raids and surveillance will testify at a “speak out” against police militarization on the weekend of the Urban Shield SWAT training in Boston. Speakers will be available on-site for interview, and by phone before Sunday.

I’m ready to start living a spiritually rooted lifestyle. I’m ready to welcome and integrate a higher vibration in every single moment, and when I look at the life I’ve lived so far, I see that there’s a lot of room for improvement.

What can we do to live the kind of lives we advocate living? What can we do to find and keep ourselves on a constant higher vibration? I’ve written before about the divine qualities and the immense personal changes we’ll experience by rooting ourselves in them, but what can we do to start expressing them and transforming our lives?